Minutes of Helena Township Planning Commission

January 06, 2010

Meeting called to order by Chair Jim Swan 7:08 p.m.

Opened with Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call:                      Present:            Jim Swan                Jim Gurr

Chris Dewald           Rodger Dewey

Joe Bassil

Absent:             Doug Fadely            Bonnie Robbins

Bob Johnson           Sue Moglovkin

Discussion that Doug Fadely will submit letter to resign.

Township officials present:                      Guy Molby

Approval of Agenda:    Approved.  Motion Gurr, 2^nd Dewald, Carried (5,0)

Approval of Minutes:    Approved as submitted.  Motion Dewald, 2^nd Gurr, No official vote

Public Comment:         None.

Communications:         None.

New Business:

ZA Written Report

Dec 09–            _1_Land Use Permits, _11_ Field Checks, _1 Attorney Contact, _13_ Other Contacts.

Has tentative site plan on the business development in the south commercial district.  Owner working on necessary permits.  Molby will ask three persons from the planning commission and township board to sit on the site plan review committee.  Development is on property already deemed commercial.

Molby also submitted a report for comparison of years past zoning permits.

Old Business:

            Special Use Permit:  Nothing done yet.

Wind Tower Discussion:  Swan, Guy, Johnson and Dewald attended a training session.

Discussion on the ordinance language from Ottawa County.  Dave Peterson and Bob Johnson reviewed this and adapted it to Helena Township,  Members will review copy and discuss this in February.

Peterson pointed out two distinct section dealing with residential and with commercial.  Points of interest are setbacks and tower height.  Discussion on county, township, and state requirements and overlaps.  Ordinance should include language to alert those seeking permit that final approval is contingent on meeting all county and state requirements not covered in township zoning ordinance.  Information would be included in township brochure to make it easier for consumer to contact these sources.

Definitions and Standards:  Tabled for next meeting.

Public Comment:

Molby will speak with Bzdok about Land Division Language.

Question on how we maintain continuity and how to make sure those assigned tasks are preparing for the meeting so we can move forward.   The top three issues from Molby’s list are topics under Old Business and the planning commission is moving forward.

Adjourn: Motion Dewald, 2^nd Dewey. Carried (5,0)

Respectfully Submitted,

Bonnie Robbins

Helena Township Planning Commission Recording Secretary